And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
Acts 1:8
It is easy to make this “power of the Holy Spirit” complicated and mystical. There is certainly mystery concerning the power of the Spirit. Dr. Stanley Hauerwas observes, “Mystery does not name a puzzle that cannot be solved. Rather, ‘mystery’ names that which we know, but the more we know, the more we are forced to rethink everything we think we know.” In the reality of the mysterious is the practical. We can practice praying for the sick. We can train, practice, and grow in our operation of spiritual gifts. For example, teaching is a spiritual gift mentioned in Romans 12, and one who has a gift from God in teaching can grow in his gift by practice. The same is true of prophecy and healing.
The word “power” simply means ability. Jesus promises to give us the ability to do what He has called us to do. This raw ability can be perfected and matured through practice. For some of us, the practice will grow into a formal ministry, but most of the time it simply means we will be able to serve others more effectively.
Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. The power of God gives us the ability to act, and to act in a situation the way the Lord would act! We sometimes make the mistake of categorizing gifts and talents as natural and supernatural. The truth of the matter is that all we have comes from God, and in that sense, all our gifts and talents are supernatural.
What good work is God calling you to? Where is there need for the love of God to be made known? It is there you will find the power of the Holy Spirit.